|
| Group |
Round |
C/R |
Comment |
Date |
Image |
| 7 |
Sep 25 |
Reply |
Thanks Judith - sorry I could not assist, but I make this presentation via zoom - as an aside, it's listed on Camera Club Hub but the woman who runs the PSA speakers didn't like my title, she thought Hacks sounded 'nefarious,'f so I guess it won't make it on to the PSA list of presenters and presentation topics |
Sep 27th |
| 7 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
I make the presentation on Zoom Hosedar - send me your email address, mine is bmazz68@icloud.com
|
Sep 25th |
| 7 |
Sep 25 |
Reply |
Thank you Barbara - it was a fun experience |
Sep 24th |
| 7 |
Sep 25 |
Reply |
Thank you Tomi, I can't tell you how much your comment meant to me - I have a presentation on Camera Club Hub ("Beyond the Rule of Thirds - 33 Hacks to Improve Your Scores in Camera Club Competitions") and that's one of the hacks (Hack #22 actually) where I emphasize going back to someplace with a degree of foreknowledge to shoot it again. Actually I learned that bit of information from Rick Sammon in a Kelby video, and I've tried to follow it with some success - present image included. Thanks again for your thoughts - mission accomplished :-) |
Sep 24th |
| 7 |
Sep 25 |
Reply |
Thank you Tom, I'll be sure to check out your DD groups |
Sep 21st |
| 7 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
I thought you did an excellent job of finding an unusual and visually interesting image and your choice of monochrome was spot on in my opinion
|
Sep 13th |
| 7 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
Nice job Tomi, using an effective 56mm lens to capture this. I've seen condors off in the distance (dark specs in the far, far distance actually) at the Navajo Bridge over the Colorado River at Marble Canyon, Arizona on the way to and from the South and North Rims but never this close - good for you. You inspired me to hang out at the bridge for a while on my next trip to "The Canyon" |
Sep 13th |
| 7 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
Gaetan, this is a beautiful image and you captured the scene extremely well - kudos. The horizon line dips on the right side, which is the give-away to the combining two images - nonetheless, I don't think most people would notice because full frame rainbow images always attract attention - nice job and lucky you for finding this scene. |
Sep 6th |
| 7 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
Tom, this is a very appealing scene with strong emotional resonance because it creates a mood, and I will never discount the power of 'mood' in a photograph. Technically and compositionally well balanced and some may feel the second boat in the background creates depth - I disagree and would remove in post because it fights with the subject for attention even though part of the story. In my VF I removed the second sailboat and opened the shadows on the subject to give it more detail. What is really impressive however is the exposure - I don't know how you could have done much better. |
Sep 6th |
 |
| 7 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
The image tells a story! It also captures a fleeting, powerful natural event with drama and energy. The exposure is excellent with good detail, and the composition tends to focus the viewer's eye - in my VF I straightened the horizon line. Save for the horizon line, this is an excellent shot |
Sep 6th |
 |
6 comments - 4 replies for Group 7
|
| 21 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
Tom, the bird pops well against the sandy background and I think the long shadow adds depth and a bit of drama - nice time of day. While not great action there is a sense of curiosity in the bird, and I can infer nest building behavior. I think for the perspective of shooting down on a subject you did very well - although I'm a believer that eye level bird shots are usually the most interesting. Nonetheless, I really like how you captured catchlight All in all, I find the image visually interesting and aesthetically pleasing. You might consider flipping in post so the subject's movement is from left to right. |
Sep 22nd |
 |
1 comment - 0 replies for Group 21
|
| 67 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
Good idea about flipping the image - never saw that - but flipped the wildebeests horn on the left leads to the skeleton on the right taking me thru the frame - thanks |
Sep 13th |
| 67 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
Scott - you did good! Love this image. Like Larry I'm not a big portrait person either, but you have the subject staring right into the lens and the left paw off the ground really animates this image - in my VF I darkened the stone foreground and brightened the subject's eyes to emphasize one of the most appealing aspects of the image and re-cropped to 5x7 - that's a personal preference in wildlife images 5x7 or 4x6 which I refer to as "more standard crops" - a 10 on a 10-pt scale, thanks for sharing |
Sep 6th |
 |
| 67 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
David, I love the simplicity of this image and great eye for finding it. I tightened the crop in my VF, which I think has more impact and visual strength than as you presented. However, I also think your wider crop might do better in abstract/artistic categories; but to my way of thinking, the interest is in the translucence of the leaf with no real reason to look beyond it, so I lean toward the tighter crop in my VF - regardless, an EXCELLENT capture either way. |
Sep 6th |
 |
| 67 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
Larry - to me this is simplicity and story personified and rolled into one. One usually doesn't see foam on lakes, so the viewer instantly knows this is a large body of water and very small subject about to enter it. Additionally, I think titles are important and the title says it all and when combined with the image I find it simply outstanding - as they say, in wildlife images, story is king. Nice job on this Larry. |
Sep 6th |
| 67 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
Cindy - let's begin with what I see in front of me, i.e., a tack sharp and well-exposed gorgeous oryx with excellent detail but static. I also see a most interesting background (environment) and a very subtle leading line in the foreground (the light-colored stone path that leads the eye to the subject.) In my VF I tried to emphasize the leading line by darkening everything else in the background except the leading line and then putting a slight vignette on the subject. I think this is a great shot for a wildlife in its environment competition - nice job |
Sep 6th |
 |
| 67 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
Bud, we all know titles are important in photography because a good title works like the first sentence of a short story-it pulls people in. It also frames the way a viewer approaches the image, otherwise, people bring their own assumptions and may miss the story you intended, which is why I always look at an image before reading the title if possible.
And when I first looked at your image, I thought you were photographing a grand landscape i.e., a tranquil valley with dramatic mountains in the background - then I read your title - Brown Bear Yearling Nursing. So, please, don't think I'm being pedantic because I enjoy your photography - the energy you put into it is obvious.
However, you title tells me THE subject is a nursing cub, which comprises about 1% of the frame. And frankly thinking the subject was dramatic landscape of Alaska, I initially thought the bears were an added touch to bring life to landscape image.
Compositionally I think you did a very nice job and technically (exposure, foreground, background, DOF) appear to be spot on. But to my eye, it's not a "bear photo." Also, fyi, only a subjective interpretation would see that the cub is nursing - at first glance I thought it was a cub playing with its mother.
As noted, as a photograph you did an excellent job, but I also feel there's a disconnect between what I see and the title you gave it. I mention this because when I'm judging, I always incorporate the title into my assessment of the image. I don't know if all judges do this, but that's something that was taught to me, and I've followed that advice since.
|
Sep 6th |
| 67 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
Thanks Bud - I go both ways so it'll be interesting to see what others have to say, but part of me prefers it that way, I don't want visual competition but at the same time, I see your point. Regardless, I massaged it as best I could and to me it's all about the story - appreciate your thoughts and giving me your opinion. |
Sep 1st |
7 comments - 0 replies for Group 67
|
| 73 |
Sep 25 |
Reply |
Raymond - please send me your email address - mine is bmazz68@iCloud.com - I may have something of interest for you - I've been comp chair at two different photoclubs |
Sep 25th |
| 73 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
November might be a better time to go - early June is still spring out west and frankly I don't recall ever having experienced such diverse weather in one afternoon in my life. it was sunny when I left Farmington, by the time I got off the highway the clouds started forming. When we started our trek it began to thunder off in the distance, which quickly turned into a full blown sand storm - two other people who were there had the cameras sand blasted - literally and destroyed their lenses. Wind must have been 60 mph and had to take cover where there's no cover so I wedged in between some rocks - then it began to rain, then lightning but there was still blowing sand so I didn't dare take my camera out of its bag - by the time the storm had passed the light was pretty much gone. Here's one bit of advice - if you're going to shoot the Alien Throne (attached here) DO NOT SET YOUR CAMERA BAG DOWN AND WALK AROUND LOOKING FOR YOUR COMPOSITION - you may never find it again. It's a warren like I've never seen so keep you camera bag with you. It took me over half an hour to find it and I thought I had only walked a few steps. One more suggestion bring a wide angle and get LOW when you shoot the Throne itself - I did not and didn't get the shot I wish I had - in the attached the light was changing so rapidly that with this shot I simply moved the vibrance slider in LrC close to zero and left the sky alone - I wanted to give it a foreboding feel, i.e. "Where Demons, Goblins and Gargoyles Lurk" - Best of luck |
Sep 25th |
 |
| 73 |
Sep 25 |
Reply |
Ian - Good catch- and I agree with you - the problem is that I have so many shots of this scene with different crops I wasn't sure which to use and submitted one of the outtakes - I agree with your assessment - thanks Here's another shot taken about 5 minutes prior to the one I submitted |
Sep 25th |
 |
| 73 |
Sep 25 |
Reply |
Thanks for your comments Gary |
Sep 25th |
| 73 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
This is a really nice shot Ian - I've tried ICM on trees and was never satisfied, but this image is different and you captured it well - my one comment is you might want to fill in the lower left - in my VF I removed that area with a crop along with the sky - LMK if you like it. |
Sep 13th |
 |
| 73 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
Gary - this image pops! Excellent idea to go BxW - I do wonder since you shot with a 24mm and it's not a 2/6 out-of-the-camera crop, why you didn't do more of a pano - nonetheless, this is beautiful |
Sep 6th |
| 73 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
I've shot star trails many times and didn't think you could get star trails in NY City - technically spot on and GREAT composition - a solid winner - nice job Raymond - the image is one not seen every day and that's what makes it special - kudos, kudos! |
Sep 6th |
| 73 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
This is a simple yet beautifully executed image. When shooting the Mara, I've always felt a pano look has more impact (see my VF) nonetheless, this image is VERY well done. I can almost feel the wind that's blowing the grasses - nice job Sherry |
Sep 6th |
 |
5 comments - 3 replies for Group 73
|
| 97 |
Sep 25 |
Reply |
Thanks Kathleen - |
Sep 17th |
| 97 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
I like your square crop Roy - I'm not sure that it's better, but it didn't occur to me and I do like it a lot, so thanks because it works well here. |
Sep 13th |
| 97 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
Kathleen - your excellent technical skills are certainly on display here, nice job. And as the saying goes, in wildlife photography story is king and you have an obvious and excellent story - that said, you also did a great job with your perspective (eye level with the subject or close to it) and you managed to separate a compelling subject from its background - very, very nice - the only downside I see is the subject does not face within 90 degrees of the lens - its body (see the leg position) is canted away from the camera. Still a beautiful image Kathleen |
Sep 13th |
| 97 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
Excellent action and the water droplets help in animating this image - having said that, there are two issues in my opinion the left wing appears a touch soft - I realize you shot at 1/2500th second but what was you Aperture? Secondly, while a lovely image, it's a rather common shot - might have more impact if shot from a lower perspective |
Sep 13th |
| 97 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
Beautiful capture! One of the best. Three options - add canvas, the crop is a bit tight especially on top; flip horizontal since we read left to right I think it would help if the subject were about the fly left to right and I agree with Roy -the subject is not well separated from it's background so blurring and darkening would help.
Nonetheless, this is an EXCELLENT shot of a juvenile osprey |
Sep 13th |
| 97 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
Peter - you continue to amaze with your technical skills. Truly, you make my envious. Having said that, I've always felt the first rule in wildlife photography is to have the subject facing within 90 degrees of the camera lens. |
Sep 13th |
| 97 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
This image is almost magical Enro, the clarity, detail and background are truly special - in fact, I think the background could be mistaken something you made yourself - wow, truly a special image. If in a photo club competition (and I'm familiar with them) I think you would get dinged for the mergers between the Blackcap on the left and the berries surrounding and merging with its head - but easily removed in post - otherwise, a wow image IMO |
Sep 8th |
| 97 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
Roy - whenever I review an image I always look at what I like best and what I 'like least,' and in this image I thought you really handled the bald eagle portrait beautifully - the whites are white with great detail, and the blacks are black also with great detail and all in between - really a nice job.
The one thing I feel could be improved is reducing the size of the branch that leads my eye up and out of the frame. There's also a schmear in the foliage just to the right and below the center of the frame.
In my VF, I cleaned up the edges in PS and removed part of the branch that took my eye out of the frame. All in all, this is a nice capture you should be proud of, as noted the detail in the subject, which I feel is essential in wildlife photography is excellent.
|
Sep 7th |
 |
7 comments - 1 reply for Group 97
|
26 comments - 8 replies Total
|
